Tourmaline w/ Cleavelandite (RARE loc. ex Larson Coll.)

Item Description

Mineral specimens are RARE from this obscure pegmatite on Gem Hill, near the renowned prolific Himalaya Mine. This very sculptural and cute 360-degree parallel-growth miniature tourmaline is nicely accented by the cluster of oxide-tinted cleavelandite blades. Deceptive, in that the highly lustrous, well-striated trigonal prism looks to be a black schorl crystal under normal light. BUT - back lighting and bright light reveals a zone of gemmy translucence above the black schorl body and below the lustrous pinacoidal termination, that has areas of pretty hues of violet color. Complete all-around and nearly pristine, with only trivial termination edge wear. Undoubtedly OLD material, pre-1970s. Mass is 30 grams. Ex Bill Larson San Diego County Pegmatite Collection and long on display at his Pala International shop in Fallbrook. RARE old bi-colored tourmaline from the Cota Mine.